DJMax Respect

The DJMax series was not doing so well in the time before Respect came out. The last VSRG entry came out in 2010, the last arcade entry went offline in 2013, and the mobile games left a lot to be desired. I was anxious for a return to form, and Respect delivered that and so much more.

I'll admit that Respect's gameplay is not revolutionary. Rhythm games are a simple genre, and there's nothing in Respect that you haven't seen in any other Bemani VSRG. Apart from the Fever mechanic, this game doesn't boast any flashy gimmicks, although the gameplay is still fundamentally solid. In particular, many of the charts are well-designed and fun to read.

The real appeal of the game comes from its presentation. Respect is the ultimate love letter to DJMax fans, and it goes above and beyond in celebrating the series' rich history. This is apparent from the moment you start the game; the opening music video "glory day" is chock-full of references to iconic characters and artists who have contributed to the series. Nearly every song that has ever been featured in a DJMax game makes a return appearance, their music videos lovingly remastered in 1080p 60fps (especially impressive considering some of these songs are nearly two decades old at this point). I'm also enamored by the game's striking aesthetic, as well as the new mascots El_Clear and El_Fail, no doubt the most iconic rhythm game mascots in recent memory.

That being said, Respect is also a perfect entry-level game for new rhythm game players, with a wide range of difficulties, four different play modes, and a very long tracklist to choose from. Even if you don't pick up all the little references, you can still appreciate the amount of care the developers put into the game. So check it out!